Posts by Gerald Smith76

...high-quality Krav Maga, some pure Arnis or Pekiti Tirsia (that’s actually my biggest goal), or just cross-training Jiu-Jitsu with some striking like Muay Thai, which is probably what I'll end up doing given where we are

Alex Ward3 said:I don't think street conflicts happen unless you provoke them yourself. People will probably say I'm talking nonsense because they'll claim they didn't do anything and still got attacked, but the truth is everyone radiates an energy that people can sense. Certain types of people pick up on that and actively seek out someone who fits their specific target profile.

That’s why building self-confidence and working on your own energy matters, right?
Aggressive, high-contact training isn't actually all that useful.
Which is exactly why Brandon Hayes73 goes for Aikido...

It just reminded me of something that happened the other day; it's a perfect example.

There's a field next to my house, near a local elementary school. I have to walk past it on my way to campus. I was heading to class around 2:00 PM when I spotted this kid—maybe 15 years old—wearing a belt, playing some country music on his phone, and swinging a real hunting knife around while walking through the field. He had this look on his face like he stepped straight out of a gritty crime drama in Chicago; I haven't seen anything like it in a long time. He stopped and stared at me with this unsettling expression, clutching that knife—I honestly 😲 felt like he was going to jump me out of nowhere. Eventually, he just flipped the knife around in his hand (blade toward his elbow, handle forward) and kept walking. 😕 😕

Jonathan Johnson67 said:@ Gerald Smith76, it doesn't matter. If someone wants to open their own similar school, let them. The first person to do it will naturally only attract a small group of people who are actually interested and know something about fighting. This whole other thing is just for the naive; if someone wants to pay, they can pay. (I'm referring to the example Gerald Smith76 provided, not these masters—I don't know anything about them).

I see you caught my drift. 👍
At the end of the day, that’s my stance too. If someone wants to do it, they should go ahead; nobody is stopping them.

Satter, you didn't misinterpret me 👍. I'm not trying to defend or smear anyone; I'm just presenting the facts through a bit of an allegory so no one takes offense.
Apparently, this individual supposedly spent years training in Karate, Taekwondo, Aikido, Wing Chun, Boxing, Nanbudo, and more, completing his training under Sensei Damir Kukulj.

Solid point regarding the belt... that part confuses me too, especially since the diploma explicitly states what it says.

To give you some perspective on why people start questioning things regarding urban survival training—and keeping this strictly logical without looking for an argument:

Imagine a scenario where you train under Dean for a certain period until you become his lead instructor and run the school while he is away from the United States. You learn a very specific, well-defined set of unified techniques called SpecWog. (Your teacher, in this case, is also a highly respected, accredited master of other disciplines who had the unique opportunity to test these principles in real-world scenarios as a police officer, bodyguard, or security chief.)

That system has its own order, structure, and methodology established by the founders. The founder didn't just throw things together; they systematically translated their extensive experience and martial vision into a didactic teaching method called SpecWog. It isn't arbitrary. This isn't a commercial venture; in fact, most of the general public doesn't even know this whole thing exists. It’s just a small group of police instructors and dedicated civilians attending occasional seminars, and that’s it.

Then comes the "problem," which is usually the root of these debates:
Because you were the lead instructor, you earned a certain rank and possess significant knowledge, allowing you to run the school while the master is out of town. Eventually, you decide to part ways with your teacher—for whatever reasons, and those should be respected—and you start your own school, perhaps giving it a clever name like SpecDo.
You take a snapshot of the SpecWog repertoire, reshape it according to your own vision, and then tell the media that you are the author and founder of the first American system, claiming international recognition, while treating the person who actually holds the credit as someone you simply "finished" training under.
You continue to market it as an "effective combat system" that you created based on your own vast experience, even though it barely resembles SpecWog and is technically "original."
Then you move into heavy commercialization. Many would argue you lack the depth of knowledge or experience to maintain quality over the long term or to serve the primary goal: effective self-defense. Time will tell.

Until then, everyone is free to do as they please; or, as Kukulj puts it, everyone does what suits them best. I respect that. I'm not attacking anyone; I'm just providing a few interesting observations at the audience's request. 😉

P.S. One more interesting detail mentioned by George Martin: when listing a purely martial resume on a club's website, alongside belts and certified skills, you also include that you are a board member for some motorcycle association. 😕

Something is rotten in the state of Denmark... : ))

Jonathan Johnson67 said:@ Gerald Smith76 - honestly, that should be an easy fix. A guy claims he's using a fighting stance, so you just show him why it isn't working. It's pointless trying to argue with someone stubborn about their posture; once they take the stance, you just point out the openings and let them see for themselves why it’s a bad move.

The guy showed him exactly where he was exposed, but after two or three tries, he went right back to his old ways.
He needs to actually take a hit; I think that's the only way he'll learn. 😬

Peter Myers29 said:It isn’t really about intelligence; it’s just about finding a discipline that fits you. Let people find their own thing. One person does Muay Thai, another does karate, someone else does Tai Chi, ballet, or chess. Everyone chooses their own path.

Just offering an example here, not trying to attack anyone's position...
Take a guy I saw at a gym in Chicago recently. He used to do TKD. The instructor tells him—nicely, dozens of times—to keep his hands up in a guard while striking, to protect himself, and to rotate his hips. Instead, the guy drops his hands into this ridiculous stance: arms extended at his sides, body twisted, knees locked, chin up and exposed. When corrected, he just shrugs and says, "I don't get it, this is my fighting stance." That stance is suicide outside of sport TKD. It’s hardcoded into his muscle memory now.
The point is, anyone practicing something like that needs to realize it won't work in any other context. If someone actually wants to develop perfected striking technique that works in a real fight against anyone, it makes sense for them to move toward something like Muay Thai.

If they don't care about that—if they just want recreation, fun, and enjoy the specific techniques and principles of the art, and if they can compete and enjoy themselves—then there's no need to choose between Muay Thai/kickboxing and "their" version of TKD or karate. 😉

Chris Ward43 said:When did that club fold? They held a training session at my old high school earlier this year. Is Bill Gates the guy with the mustache?

Actually, they didn't fold, my mistake. Bill Gates is older and heavier than that... honestly, I haven't kept up with what's happening lately. What are you looking for?

How is that club still around? Old man Bill Gates is running the show, what a legend.
Apparently they’re doing Jiu-Jitsu there now? Over in downtown LA.

Boxer said:Don't worry about being polite... if you think something is garbage, just say it!
This is genuinely tough stuff... terrible.

On this forum, if you say something is bad, someone will inevitably jump in to tell you you're full of it and that it's actually great—claiming you just don't know any better. It turns into an endless debate filled with insults, and frankly, I've had enough of that. I'm trying to stay level-headed.😉

offtopic: Kudos to the Kickboxing crew over at Bonnie Parker; the training session was excellent and the conditioning is intense. The guys are professional and really take the time to walk you through the techniques. I'm definitely feeling the burn—didn't expect that.👍

Jamie Fowler2 said:but since I like seeing and trying everything, if it's ever nearby, I'll go.

That's true... at the end of the day, everyone experiences reality differently. Some techniques just don't click for certain people, and others learn to fight effectively in their own way. The only thing that matters is that they don't start rambling about having "the most effective military combat skills in the world."

Joseph Johnson6 said:A quick word on this colleague discussing the "power of thought."😁 👍

The whole "power of thought" thing is clearly just Ryabkov being a smartass🙏 . What’s more concerning is that in many training videos and demos, I see traces of what we might call "physically weak" self-defense methods—techniques that would leave a naive, predictable attacker flying through the air or getting leveled. I'm pretty skeptical of this principle. And I'm not alone; it's not just me, but various respected figures—masters and coaches from established combat sports who actually understand how fighting works—who feel the same way.

Mark Wilson39 said:I might be wrong, but this doesn't look bad to me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uuq50...elated&search=

That Pole who does those great reports (comparing UFC to military systems, etc.) just commented on parts of this video (I think there are links in the MA humor section)...
The whole demo is staged for show, and while it looks impressive, the defenses against multiple attackers seem a bit naive—they're clearly choreographed. That’s not even mentioning the deer antlers or the one guy with a staff fighting four or five people armed with sticks and halberds. You can see the rehearsal in those segments where the guys in suits defend themselves with such total nonchalance.

I managed to download just one clip I actually liked, which covers attacks in a hallway, by a car door, in an alleyway, and a mugger demanding cash... the techniques used there are similar to "classic" self-defense, basically modified Jiu-Jitsu.
As for the rest of the "beyond physical" stuff—all that Aikido nonsense where people fly through the air from a single touch, combined with that overly calm, indifferent posture—it doesn't sit right with me. Especially regarding knife defense; they don't control the blade, and the attacker just stops after the initial swing, allowing himself to be attacked while keeping only one hand active, which is a massive mistake. All those highly rehearsed scenarios just aren't my thing.

In my opinion, combat sambo and sambo are a much better Russian mix.

Search www.youtube.com for Ryabko, Vasiliev, Systema, or whatever similar names come up and browse through some clips... Ryabko had me laughing out loud 🤣.
Even the stuff presented as "serious" didn't sit right with me—especially the knife work and the grappling. Having multiple opponents at once felt incredibly naive...

For starters: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvF17Wd4Fz4

rustytinker3 said:Jiu-jitsu covers standing combat—all types of strikes (atemi), grabs, takedowns, throws, and standing submissions; ground fighting—arm and leg locks, chokes (my personal favorite, haha); defense against and use of cold weapons (knives, sticks)...

And yet, none of you self-proclaimed "martial arts experts" felt the need to correct me.

Check out the post above.🙂

PS, briskjackal5, you see how much we enjoy a good fail? Don't rob us of that pleasure.😁

rustytinker3 said:David Lewis7, which of these jiu jitsu clubs is actually the best?
Also, what are the locations? What are the names of the gyms?
Which one do you recommend?
I'm not interested in Brazilian styles, or general ground fighting.

It would be better if we referred to it as jujitsu or jujutsu rather than jiu jitsu, since the latter usually implies BJJ these days.
You might find classic jujutsu more appealing.
The style encompasses throws, locks, some groundwork and striking techniques, with a strong emphasis on throws, locks, and defensive techniques. It is also characterized by in-fighting and close work. It is a circular, hard/soft, external style.
Training: Practical with a heavy emphasis on sparring and mock combat.

ruggedfalcon2 said:I’ve already covered this... what people call kung fu or Wing Chun isn't some separate category. 🙄 Saying Wing Chun is Kung Fu is like saying Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is Kung Fu. It's neither more nor less. I don't know why Gerald Smith76 doesn't read my blog with actual comprehension. 🙄 ☕

I get the distinction now. The issue is that when people say "kung fu," they’re usually thinking of what they see in something like Wing Chun—even if they don't realize it's Wing Chun specifically. They just call it kung fu. I used to do the same thing. Or they think of Bruce Lee and his movies. Most people have no clue how many different styles exist in China, or the technical differences between them.

It's the same deal with the term Jiu-Jitsu. When you say it, most people immediately picture BJJ, even though they likely know nothing about classical Jiu-Jitsu or its actual content, let alone Judo or Aikido.

rustytinker3 said:@Jonathan Johnson67, let me be more specific... I want to learn joint locks—specifically armbars—clearing techniques, weapon combat, and general strikes designed to immediately incapacitate an opponent. I'm interested in martial arts similar to kung fu.!!!
How useful are those skills in a real street fight?
What do you actually learn in Wing Chun? Ninjutsu isn't just about flashy moves you see in movies. It’s about efficiency, stealth, and knowing how to leverage your environment to end a confrontation before it even starts. If you're looking for substance over style, that's where the real discipline lies.

Ground fighting isn't my thing—I have zero interest in jujigatame. If I actually cared about grappling, I would’ve just gone to Brazil for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. You're right that Muay Thai has solid stand-up, but it isn't strictly a self-defense sport, and besides, it's just not for me. They’re more interested in skills similar to kung fu..

I'm training Muay Thai at the Ameno club in Split.
Breaking an arm halfway through a fight? That’s just skill. Anyone can throw a decent direct punch or a high kick if they put in a little work. Don't get me wrong—I'm not downplaying Muay Thai; I know exactly how dangerous it is and how brutal the injuries can be. But that's just my take on it.

You’re being illogical. You don't know Kung Fu. For what it's worth, Kung Fu refers to Wing Chun here—if you spent a little time actually studying this forum, you'd understand how things work around here.

Breaking an arm with a half-guard could technically be considered a sport—whether you're talking judo, BJJ, or sambo. It just means you have a flawed perception of what constitutes a sport or a skill.

Self-defense training includes grappling components, primarily drawn from Judo or Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu—think takedowns, throws, chokes, and joint locks. To neutralize an opponent, you'll start with strikes from Muay Thai, boxing, or other standard striking arts; that's the universal baseline. Don't get ahead of yourself thinking you'll be catching limbs mid-air or pulling off wild throws like something out of a movie. 😉

rustytinker3 said:Can anyone recommend a good stand-up combat sport or skill for self-defense???
Thanks in advance!!!!

😕 😕
One of the best stand-up options is Muay Thai.
Self-defense isn't strictly limited to stand-up, though.

Zachary Alvarez8 said:It was a finger to the eye—even Barnett admitted it. Regardless, Mike Tyson absolutely dismantled him like he was nothing.

So much for the idea that only certain martial arts specialists know how to land a lethal strike to the eye. 😬 😬